Source:
Iran Times
Published
reports say actress Golshifteh Farahani has been prohibited from leaving the
country after she appeared in a Hollywood film without permission, but a
colleague denied the allegations and said the actress was already in the United
States.
The ban was reportedly imposed after Farahani, 25,
took part in Ridley Scott's "Body of
Lies" with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Farahani is the first
Iran-based actress to star in a Hollywood film-but an Iran-based actor
did so recently without any apparent problems.
"Golshifteh Farahani was banned from leaving by the
authorities at the airport on Tuesday [of last week] when she was about to leave
for Hollywood to examine a new offer," the state news agency quoted an unnamed
source as saying.
The news agency said Iranian actors must first
obtain permission from the Culture Ministry before appearing in foreign films.
But an online movie trailer also shows the Iranian actress without the
obligatory headscarf.
Reports said Farahani had insisted in her contract
on wearing the Islamic headscarf or a wig in the film in order to respect
Iranian law.
But on Tuesday, casting director Mohammad Reza
Sharifi-nia, who has worked on several films with Farahani, told the Fars news
agency the actress had already left for the United States. "This trip took
place last Thursday and she has gone to the United States on a personal visit,"
Sharifi-nia said, adding, "These are all rumors and her trip proves these rumors
wrong."
"Body of Lies," due for release October 10, is the
story of a CIA agent who travels to Jordan to track down an al-Qaeda leader.
Farahani plays Ayeshe, a Jordanian nurse taking care of the agent (DiCaprio)
after he is injured.
Body of Lies
Farahani was awarded the 2006 Golden Seashell at
Spain's San Sebastian International Film Festival for her role in Iranian
director Bahman Ghobadi's film entitled "Half Moon".
She also starred in "Santuri," an Iranian film whose
release was delayed for several months while censors debated whether it should
be banned.
The conservative Internet site Tabnak last Tuesday
criticized Farahani for her role in "Body of Lies" and asked why the authorities
had not taken steps against her.
But others pointed out that Homayoun Ershadi, who
played the role of Baba in the Academy Award-nominated film "The Kite Runner,"
had not faced similar criticism. There were no reports of Ershadi asking
permission or being granted permission from the Culture Ministry. That
suggested to some a stricter rule for women.
About Iran Times:
The Iran Times is an
independent newspaper with no affiliation with any political party or faction
The Iran Times corporation was founded in Washington D.C. in 1970, in accordance
with U.S. federal and local regulations:
www.iran-times.com
... Payvand News - 08/29/08 ... --
